Stoic Coffee Break

68 - Apathy and Superficiality

Mar 17, 2018

Exploring the concept of apathy and superficiality in Stoicism and how to maintain control and focus on the things we can control.

06:04

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Quick takeaways

Circumstances are neutral and their value depends on our perception and interpretation.

Excessive attachment to external factors diminishes happiness and distracts from inner growth and meaningful contributions.

Deep dives

Recognizing the Neutrality of Circumstances

In this episode, the concept of the neutrality of circumstances is explored. It is emphasized that circumstances and events are neither inherently good nor bad, but rather our perception and interpretation of them determine their value. While it may be tempting to become apathetic and resigned when faced with circumstances outside our control, this approach is discouraged. Instead, by accepting the neutrality of circumstances, we can focus our energy on the aspects of life that are within our control.

Apathy and Superficiality

4min

“So when you hear that even life and the like are indifferent, don’t become apathetic; and by the same token, when you’re advised to care about them, don’t become superficial and conceive a passion for externals.” - Epictetus

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